Run Silent, Run Deep
This 1958 film is about WW II American submarine combat, and is set in the South Pacific. U. S. Navy Captain Richardson (Clark Gable) has his submarine sunk by a Japanese destroyer. Beached, he wrangles another submarine command, one that should have gone to its Executive Officer, Captain Bledsoe (Burt Lancaster). When the top job goes to Richardson, Bledsoe swallows his pride and stays on as loyal Executive Officer. The two make a good team, but soon Richardson allows his penchant for revenge to affect his judgment, jeopardizing the safety of the ship, until Bledsoe threatens to take command.
I won’t tell you how this plays out, but both actors play their parts with a believable professionalism until we forget they are actors and not real Naval officers. Especially effective are the shore scenes where these men wear their dress uniforms and we catch a glimpse of Richardson’s idyllic home life at Pearl Harbor. Palm trees wave in the gentle breeze before we encounter in contrast the excellent action scenes and nerve wracking depth bomb sequences. This is the first film that truly gave us an insight into the workings of a WW II American submarine. I recommend it highly.
Sink the Bismarck
This British film from 1960 is based on the true story of the hunt for German’s largest warship, and is quite well done even though many of the ships shown are models. It is also highly effective in black and white, which best depicts the frigid waters of the North Atlantic. Much of the tension is transmitted through the central control office where operations are planned and executed through the ministrations of Captain Shepherd (Kenneth More), a man with a tragic past, who is tasked with finding and destroying the great German battleship. His job is made easier by his beautiful assistant, Wren Officer Anne Davis (Dana Wynter), who brings him out of his depression.
But the real action takes place out at sea, where we come to know a little about both sides in this grim seagoing adventure. Especially poignant are the scenes aboard the fateful ship, where we see young German boys and men going about their duties, knowing that their destiny will probably take them to the bottom of the sea as the fanatical Admiral Lutjens makes impassioned yet empty speeches to them about the greatness of Germany. After blowing up the British pride of the fleet, the H. M. S. Hood, all seems lost to the British. But then a lucky hit by a bi-plane’s torpedo destroys the Bismarck’s keel, causing her to turn in circles, making her easy prey. No quarter is given or accepted as the great ship is torn to pieces. A great movie, showing the sad futility of war. The song by Johnny Horton is pretty neat too.
Das Boot
This 1981 German film is not only the best submarine movie ever made, but is also one of the best war movies ever made. Based on the excellent novel by Lothar-Gunther Buchheim, and directed by Wolfgang Petersen, the story follows and is narrated by a young war correspondent who joins a crew of veterans, led by their beloved and highly successful Captain, played by Jurgen Prochnow. We get to know many of the crew as they party to stupefaction at the local cabaret, and then go to sea. The scenes of the green waves coming over the forecastle, the wind and the spray hitting the men in the face on the conning tower, make the viewer feel the cold, the wet, and the gloom of the North Atlantic. More, we wonder how ordinary men could endure such punishment, and the dangers have only begun.
The scenes within the boat are also unforgettable, showing with gritty realism the dirty, cramped conditions aboard their tiny vessel, filled with begrimed but prideful men. We are with these men as they get into one harrowing scrape after another, but our trusty Captain and his loyal and ingenious men always seem to come up with a miracle to save them. You can smell the sweat, the diesel oil, the cabbage boiling in the galley. The scene where the chief engineer chugs a bottle of apple juice after slaving for hours to fix and save the boat is incredibly powerful; after being half crazed, we feel his immense relief and actually taste the juice as he quenches his thirst. See the director’s edition in the original German for greatest effect. Don’t miss this one.
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